Cattle Brand Records, 1697-1699

Document Description:

“Early Reports from the colony emphasized the rapid and profitable increase of livestock, which at first were usually allowed to roam free. Stock marks were an obvious necessity. In this period cattle, horses, and hogs were identified by slits and cuts in their ears as well as by brands, and early secretaries and deputies recorded a few of these marks among their miscellaneous records. Paul Grimball was secretary when the colony passed its records act on June 20, 1694, and he soon started the separate book for stock marks that the act called for.”

Information on this document comes from Charles H. Lesser. South Carolina Begins: The Records of a Proprietary Colony, 1663-1721, (Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1995), 425.

Transcription:

September 18th, 1697 [cattle brand mark AB]:
This Day Came Anthony (T.) Bourau & recorded by his mark of Cattle & Swine (viz) the right ears an upper keele & the left an under keele likewise a parcel of cattle bought by T. Bourau of the Widow Horry markes as followeth boath eares with an upper Keele & the brand as per margent.

Febrewary the 16th, 1698 [cattle brand mark AM]:
This Day Came Abraham Mechos & recorded his mark of Cattle and Swine & horses (viz) boath Eares Cropt & the left Slitt in three parts & his brand mark & per margent.

Aprill 15th, 1699 [cattle brand mark X]:
This Day Came William Branford of the South Side of Ashby River near Accabee & recorded his Marke of Cattle & Swine viz the right Ear with a Cropp of a Hole & one upper Keel in ye Left Ear and Burn’t Marke as per Margent.

May 16, 1699 [cattle brand mark of fleur de lis]:
This day Came Mr. Isaac Mareque and Recorded his Brand Marke for Cattle & which is a Flower de Luis upon ye Right Buttocks, Marke as per Margent.

Novemb.r 21 [cattle brand mark BW.]:
This day Came Benjamin Willman of Edistoe Illand Cooper & Recorded his Brand Marker for Barrells, which is BW as per Margent.

Novemb.r 21 [cattle brand mark of spade]:
This Day Came Jeremiah Varreen & Recorded his Marke for Cattle, Hoggs & being a Spade in both Ears.

March 14:
This Day Came Mr. Stephen Fox & Recorded his Ear Markes for Cattle & hogs, viz. one Crop in ye Left Ear and a Halfpenny under ye Right Ear and has under lasches under both Ears & Burn’d Markes with an [cattle brand mark resembling a C].

Aprill 27:
This Day came Mr. Edmund Jarvis & Recorded his Ear-marke for Dogs & Cattle viz a Slitt in ye Left Ear & a Crop in the Right.

May 12:
This Day Came John Fripp & Recorded his Marke for Cattle & hoggs which is a Cropp & a Hole in ye Right Ear and a Cropp and a Slitt in ye Left, being formerly ye Marke of William Macfathion upon Edistoe-Illand & by him M sign’d to ye J. Fripp for all Cattle & Hoggs on ye said Illand of that Mark. Tes.t Henry Wigington.

Correlating SC Social Studies Academic Standards:

Standard 3-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the exploration and settlement of South Carolina and the United States.

Indicator 3-2.6: Summarize the contributions of settlers in South Carolina under the Lords Proprietors and the Royal colonial government, including the English from Barbados and the other groups who made up the diverse European population of early South Carolina. (H, G)

Standard 4-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the exploration of the new world.

Indicator 4-1.4 Explain the exchange of plant life, animal life, and disease that resulted from exploration of the New World, including the introduction of wheat, rice, coffee, horses, pigs, cows, and chickens to the Americas; the introduction of corn, potatoes, peanuts, and squash to Europe; and the effects of such diseases as diphtheria, measles, smallpox, and malaria on Native Americans. (G, H, E)

Standard 8-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the settlement of South Carolina and the Untied States by Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans.

Indicator 8-1.6 Explain how South Carolinians used natural, human, and political resources to gain economic prosperity, including trade with Barbados, rice planting, Eliza Lucas Pinckney and indigo planting, the slave trade, and the practice of mercantilism. (H, G, E)

Standard USHC-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of exploration and settlement of North America.

Indicator USHC-1.1 Summarize the distinct characteristics of each colonial region in the settlement and development of America, including religious, social, political, and economic differences. (H, E, P, G)